UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has approved military support for Saudi Arabia as Yemen’s Houthi rebels continue attacks on the kingdom.
Britain will provide “defensive air-to-air refuelling” for Saudi aircraft under a request from Riyadh, Burnham said Monday.
The UK has already deployed its Sky Sabre air-defence system to Saudi Arabia this year as part of its support for the kingdom’s defence. This comes after a sharp escalation in fighting between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. Saudi shipping vessels in the Red Sea have also been targeted, with some civilians injured. The figures and responsibility for the casualties have not been independently verified. The Saudi-led coalition accused the Houthis of targeting the holy city.
Speaking to reporters while travelling to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, Burnham said he approved the request after receiving advice from UK defence secretary Wes Streeting and foreign secretary Ed Miliband. The agreement is time-limited and is understood to be for weeks rather than months, although Burnham said it would remain under review. The British government says Houthi attacks since July have targeted several Saudi cities, airports, military bases and energy infrastructure, including Abha, Jizan, Najran, Taif, Jeddah and Yanbu. Saudi-led strikes on Yemen’s Mokha killed at least six people and wounded eight others, according to Saba news agency. Last week, Saudi authorities said an incoming drone was intercepted over or near Mecca . Earlier reporting noted: “Because of course Saudi Arabia has been experiencing attack… and we need to keep those pathways open, and hence our agreement to the request,” he said. Earlier reporting noted: “That is a time-limited agreement in terms of the assistance that we will provide, but we will keep it under review,” he said, adding that Britain was “playing our part” in the Middle East also by supporting efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
Earlier reporting noted: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday he had agreed to a request from Saudi Arabia to provide defensive air-to-air refuelling for a limited time period, a move he described as helping to stabilise the wider region.
